Blast from the Past: Kim's baby shower ~ May 2009

After Steph's baby shower last April, then the kid's Yo Gabba Gabba party early May, I was getting full steam into party planning mode. Kim's shower was next on the agenda... (Chamryn's 2nd birthday party was the day after Kim's shower, so that was a busy crazy week.) Our friend, Patti, Amy (Kim's friend who lives in NY) and I were the cohosts. Amy was in charge of the invitations and helped set up when she got into town that weekend. Patti and I (also with the help of Kim's mom, Deb) took care of the decorations and food, and I tackled the cake. There may be similarites between Steph's and Kim's parties... but major differences include the boy/girly colors (blue/orange vs pink/green/orange) and the size of the parties. Steph's more intimate shower fit in my living room, while Kim's shower required a park pavilion rental. And of course, almost all the inspiration came from this "Oh Baby" baby shower by Amy from Stem Parties.

"BABY" sign at the food table

Tablesetting

POMS

The pavilion and tables/chairs setup

Individually wrapped water bottles

We had a brunch spread... we had "Sweet" and "Savory" items...

"Sweet" items included a fruit salad, fruit pizzas, cream puffs,

pound cake, graham pretzels with chocolate cheeseball

"Savory" items included cucumber sandwiches,

spinach quiche, sausage casserole, crackers and dip

The cake--yes those are fondant shoes!

The orange boxes in the foreground were the favors....

each box contained a brownie square.

The guest packets, again, another idea from Amy....

patiently and painfully packaged by Patti...

who did her best not to complain about the tedious work caused by my ideas....

well its not my idea... blame Amy's party website.

Included in the packet was the celebrity baby game ("R" for baby Riley)....

Baby Bingo sheet, Baby Lotto "pickle cards" and the Thank You Envelopes.

These were the prizes for raffles and games...

I don't remember what was all in the bags...

This was our gift (from Patti and me) to Kim...

The banner behind Kim says "baby girl Riley" :)

Tutu

I wanted to make a tutu for my daughter Chamryn for Christmas. Well, 11 days after Christmas, I finally did it--and it took only less than 30 minutes. I found no-sew instructions on the web... (I heart youtube) ...and it was so super easy. Its basically strips of tulle tied into a elastic band. Super cute. She liked to dance and twirl around. I doubt its durability, but for less than $6 (if tulle is on sale), its a pretty good deal for toddler entertainment. :)

And on other news... I'm planning her 3rd birthday. It will be super easy and cheap. But will have a lot of BAM! POW! and KAZOOM! ;) Her birthday is not until May so you guys will have to wait a while...

In the meantime, I should post my other cakes that I did in December... including my mom's birthday cake, a Beatles cake, and a Cars cake! Stay tuned! :)

AiWan's baby shower...

Last weekend, I helped my coworker, Janet, throw a baby shower

for her "adopted" daughter, AiWan...

We came up with a lime/yellow theme.

We didn't want frilly or girly, so we used polka dots w/touches of pink

for a more mod contemporary look.

limes and lemons as decorations...

(and lemonade for later!)

The cake

I took the pictures at the party, with Janet's fancy schmancy camera...

the "auto" focus wasn't automatically focusing... or maybe its user error...

that's why its blurry. (sorry)

Green and Yellow M&Ms as favors...

And of course my poms...
I tried to do a mishmash look w/the lanterns
using this as my inspiration....
I think it needs more poms...

table with games and favorswith game "packets" for individual guests
(envelopes for thank you cards, baby bingo, word scramble, baby lotto)
Janet cut foamcore boards instead of buying clipboards,
used a paper clip, with a ribbon, "voila!"

I love baby showers....
as long as I'm not the ones playing the games or opening the presents.
;)

Alexa's Butterfly and Dragonfly Party

The "Tablescape"

Paper lanterns with butterflies, tulle, banner, sunflowers...
Butterfly/Dragonfly Favor boxes with Mini Candy Bar

Poms set the mood...


Alexa's cake

Fondant Topper

Butterfly/Dragonfly cake with pearl dragees

Favor Boxes

Centerpieces

As favors we had Dragonfly wings (for boys) and Butterfly wings (for girls)

(sorry, that was hung upside down...)


This party was so much fun to plan and do!

It was so GIRLY and COLORFUL!

I'm thinking you can incorporate tutus and wands

for a fairy style party as well!

Wizard of Oz Party

I'm such a slacker. My friend's daughter had her 4 year old's birthday party last month and I am just now finally getting around to posting it. I had posted it on Facebook but then forgot that I had given away my blog address to other people who are not on Facebook.

I helped my friend Jenn plan and decorate this Wizard of Oz party. I pulled off so many ideas online, I should have kept track of who's ideas were from where to give them credit... So, if to anyone reading this and you think I got the ideas from your blog, please comment below and I will give you credit for it! I apologize for my slackerness.

Anyhoo, here's the cake:

There is a fondant rainbow on the side that was supposed to be standing up behind Dorothy to the "Emerald City" but it didn't dry hard so I had to improvise.

Here's Tin Man... Isn't he cute?

Here's Scarecrow:

The Cowardly Lion (my husband molded him, and he wants everyone to know that he should get full credit for it. There, babe, happy? ;) )

Dorothy with Toto:

The witches legs with the ruby slippers (the reason why Dorothy is barefoot)

Rainbow cake:

Party Food:

Ruby Sippery Slippers

Melting Witch Punch

Glenda's wand-wiches (PBJ)

Emerald Grapes


Munchkin Carrots

Scarecrow's stuffing

Party Decorations and Details:

Food Tags

Handmade crepe peonies

Birthday Banner (letters with red glitter)

Pinata

(sorry I don't know how to do the mark on the N)

Yellow Brick Road and Rainbow Balloons:

Scarecrow (Mark), Glenda (Jenn)

and Dorothy, the birthday girl (Cora)

They are too cute for words, aren't they?